UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 868 ¢ 
Contribution from the Bureau of Biological Survey, 
E. W. NELSON, Chief. 
Washington, D. C. PROFESSIONAL PAPER January 10, 1921 
ECONOMIC VALUE OF THE STARLING IN THE 
UNITED STATES 
By E. R. Katmspacn and I. N. GABRIELSON, Assistant Biologists. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. Page. 
Problems raised by the starling......--..---- 1 | Food habits in the United States—Continued. 
Sources of information...............---.-.--- 2 Vegetable food of adults—Continued. 
Distribution and abundance.....-...--..---- 3 SMa eE UL Fen fem ae Wi pale tech ee ee 34 
1D) CS Crip LOIN a yee so ee a a ee Sa 8 Geinelem, habit co db oedosdacokcoasesoue 34 
Wie pa SUOTY Aes scene Neiarte ee icls cei ers gc 08 9 Wall irri eee ssc Let ieee ya eae Spa 35 
Economie status in other countries.-......--- 13 Miscellaneous vegetable food....-.-..-- 37 
Food habits in the United States..........-- 15 Hoodtotmestlimngs ss eeseeseecer eee eae 37 
Animalitoodotadulltsasc2- 42s. ne eee oe 15 Observations from blind....----.-.-..-- 39 
TITAS CES ere ce Nee Cea agen Le 15 Stomach examination.......-..-....- 40 
IVE DOG Seas ees ei le 25 yNraibaney vores Aenea sal Goageaupsosodon 41 
SDL CLOTS eps rape oa tie eae ann SA ae 25 Vegetable food.....-..-...-------: ; 43 
MIO S ssp 3 ae ee 26 Food preferences at different ages.. 44 
Miscellaneous animal food.......-...- 26 | Relation to other species of birds....----..--- 46 
Vegetable food of adults..............--- 26 | Natural enemies... ..- Pope pdcdaneodossecuneurr 53 
Cherrlesrcas tive: eek ase ees 26h eb radi catloneotroostss- ss ss4s seen eee eae 54 
IB CITVeSei ree ens Ae eee le 20h Controlemeas ules ese mse aaa a aver 56 
AD WES be Sie tnaee Ss on cabeqppaaeceT ane 20h ele epislationets 2 ee bake sees hc hal 57 
Pears and peaches. ...-.-..-----..-.- 30) | Summany of evidence 4) 403s 525s eee 57 
Grapes....-----------+-+--2+2+2- 22+. SUR a@onclusionncs.s, 15 hm as gas see ee 59 
Corniseay iets aces) eS oe 31 
PROBLEMS RAISED BY THE STARLING. 
INDFUL of the disastrous results that have attended the intro- 
duction of exotic forms of wild animal life, farmers and bird 
lovers generally have looked with apprehension on the introduction 
and spread of the Kuropean starling in the United States. When 
the destructive careers of such introduced forms as the brown rat, 
the house mouse, and the English sparrow are considered, not to 
mention the annual toll in millions of dollars now being paid to satisty 
the appetites of numerous insect pests that have been unwittingly 
brought from abroad, it is not to be wondered at that the deliberate 
importation and liberation of a considerable number of another 
species of bird that has since increased enormously in numbers 
should produce discussion. 
182334° 21-1 
